THURSDAY, 26 MARCH 2015

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTO ATTACHED OF THE HILLTOWN WALKERS AND SYLVIA MUDIE (TO THE RIGHT OF THE OWL)

Walking group launches new routes at Ninewells and Royal Victoria Hospitals

A Dundee Healthy Living Initiative walking group helped to launch new walking routes which have been created in and around the grounds of Ninewells and Royal Victoria Hospitals.

The walks, known as Medal Routes, have been designed by NHS Tayside in partnership with Ramblers Scotland to be enjoyed by the public, patients, visitors and staff to help increase people’s physical activity levels, help with recuperation and simply to enjoy nature.

To be accessible to as many people as possible, the routes vary in length with the bronze walk taking around 15 minutes to complete, the silver route taking 30 minutes and the gold route taking one hour.

The walks will take people through the Arboretum wooded area and Ninewells Community Garden in the grounds of the hospital, into Gowrie Park and along the Green Circular pedestrian and cycle route, finishing back at Ninewells. The Royal Victoria routes cover Jedburgh Road rose gardens, Victoria Park and Balgay Cemetery.

Members of the Hilltown Walkers group joined senior health promotion officer Sylvia Mudie on the inaugural walk along the Ninewells Gold Medal Route.

Sylvia said, “We are very grateful to Ramblers Scotland for producing these lovely walking routes. There is lots of interest to see in and around the grounds of Ninewells and Royal Victoria Hospitals and we hope that these new routes will encourage patients, visitors and staff to enjoy what is on offer.

“It’s great to be joined by the Hilltown Walkers today and officially open the Medal Routes.”

Further information and maps of the routes can be downloaded from www.ramblers.org.uk and a free downloadable app is available from www.medalroutes.org

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

01382 740716